BBC announces New Talent Hotlist and new commissions

BBC announces New Talent Hotlist and new commissions

Idris Elba and Tony Hall, BBC Director-General, hosted a special event this week to showcase the BBC’s New Talent Hotlist and announce a variety of new programming.

Some of the leading creatives from across the BBC identified over 200 one and off screen talent of the future at the event.

The New Talent Hotlist features fresh new voices taking risks in front of and behind the camera and reflecting the diversity of modern Britain in the creative industry.

"Finding and supporting the next generation of new talent - both on and off screen - is a vital part of the BBC’s remit," said Tony Hall.

"It is through backing new thinking, new perspectives, and taking creative risks that the BBC will not only better reflect the diversity of the country - but deliver even better, more engaging and relevant programming. I see this as central to our mission as a public service broadcaster."

The BBC unveiled a series of new measures that not only demonstrate its ongoing commitment, but will ensure a strong pipeline of emerging talent for the future. These include:

Elba takes over BBC Three this week, curating a week of content working with new talent and tackling issues that relate to the young audience.

The Felix Dexter Bursary

Two comedy writers from BAME backgrounds will gain a six month traineeship and will get the chance to work with Paul Whitehouse to encourage a new generation of BAME talent in the comedy world, through his Felix Dexter Foundation.

Short films for BBC Four by LGBT writers

Mark Gatiss (Sherlock, Taboo) has given some of Britain’s up and coming LGBT writers the opportunity to write original dramatic short films in a new project which charts a century of the UK gay experience.

For writers Keith Jarrett, Jon Bradfield, Gareth McLean, Matthew Baldwin and Michael Dennis this is the first time they will have written for television.

The Hub

BBC Three's new initiative, supported by the BBC Academy, aims to train and develop six apprentices and six trainees in Birmingham to produce the next generation of content makers and production talent.

The Hub will launch in June 2017 during Digital Cities week with the aim to have new talent producing content and will be tasked to deliver innovative social first content as well as making short form content for BBC Three.

Disabled Presenter Development

The BBC unveils new development programme for disabled presenters in factual, daytime, sport and live events.

Steve Brown, Niall Strawson, James Ballardie, Lloyd Coleman, Diana Man and Martyn Ashton have all been announced as participants.

Class Act

BBC will launch a nationwide search for new disabled acting talent and will provide intensive skills training programme for 30 actors.

Documentary Directors' Initiative

Morgan Matthews will mentor the BBC’s returning Documentary Directors' Initiative which will give six new documentary film makers the opportunity to make their first long-form films for BBC TV.

New commissions for BBC Factual

BBC Factual has announced new commissions from new on and off screen talent. Selah Hennessey's first film for TV, The Pacemakers, will air on BBC Two, Rehab from Phillip Woods (Chasing Dad) for BBC Three, From Here To Timbuktu presented by Alice Morrison for BBC Two, and Jungle Volcano presented by Chris Jackson, a Professor of Geology from Imperial College.

Two emerging female social historians, Emma Dabiri and Annie Gray, have been announced to present The Confectioners for BBC Two.

BBC Music Introducing 10th anniversary

BBC Music Introducing will celebrate their 10th anniversary in 2017 and has exciting plans for new talent which will be announced in April.

Damian Kavanagh, Controller BBC Three, commented, "discovering, supporting and nurturing exciting new talent lies at the heart of everything we do on BBC Three and I’m confident this exciting new initiative will help develop and new generation of content makers."